Topic: Nature

BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees

Written on March 22, 2019 at 1:47 pm, by

Griffin Bay Bookstore is proud to announce that San Juan Island author, Thor Hanson, author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers, has won his third Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association award, receiving the 2019 PNBA award for BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees. Please join us at the San Juan Island Library when Griffin  Continue Reading

A Change of Seasons?

Written on March 18, 2019 at 5:50 am, by

Winter is almost over – Spring is officially only a few days away and it shows. Crocuses are popping all over the place.

Catkin Garden Design & Consulting

Written on March 14, 2019 at 5:48 am, by

Meet Jenny Harris of Catkin Design. Jenny has recently started a new garden design and consulting business here in Friday Harbor. “Catkin is a new iteration of my horticultural life” she says. Originally called appropriate horticulture, what Jenny does is now called Ecological Design – a self sustaining kind of garden design that is supportive of  Continue Reading

2019 Annual Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale

Written on March 7, 2019 at 5:45 am, by

The annual Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale is coming soon! Just in time for spring planting – and spring is coming. There are hundreds of natives in containers, including flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. Plants from the Salish Seeds project are included. They grow species native to county grasslands, oak savannahs and prairies. Plants are  Continue Reading

Leviathan Delusion in Paradise Lost

Written on March 7, 2019 at 5:45 am, by

In the SJ Update Mailbag this morning, we have this letter from Steve Ulvi… Glancing at caller ID on a recent snowy morning, I guessed that my old Alaska pal, Archie was riled up about something.   Most likely a retaliatory shot in response to the brow-beating I served up previously. I had been pretty steamed  Continue Reading

Garry Oak Lecture Series

Written on February 28, 2019 at 5:48 am, by

Garry Oak Prairie: A Unique Habitat (Lecture Series) What are Garry Oaks and how do Garry Oak habitats support the ecology of the San Juan Islands and the Pacific Northwest? Join experts from San Juan Island and beyond March 8,15, 22 and 29 at the San Juan Island Grange to learn about the history of  Continue Reading

Know Your Islanders Talk

Written on February 28, 2019 at 5:46 am, by

Adam Summers – The Sea: Inspiration for Art and Science Dr. Adam Summers, who runs the Comparative Vertebrate Biomechanics Lab at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, will present a naturalist’s opinion on nature as a source of inspiration for art and science.   Monday, March 4 at 7 pm San Juan Island Library Free Refreshments will  Continue Reading

What Birds Are These?

Written on February 14, 2019 at 1:28 pm, by

We received this photo from Ruth Offen, “Just saw this gathering of I think commerants or loons all floating together. First thought it was herring ball, but not. Have you or anybody else seen this sight before?” Click on the photo to enlarge the image and if you know these birds and what they are doing please  Continue Reading

Humming Bird in Snow

Written on February 13, 2019 at 5:36 am, by

Thanks to Richard W. Wright for this great photo (Taken Feb 12, 2019)… 

Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale

Written on February 11, 2019 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to John Miller for this drone shot at 300 ft elevation, of Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale Sunday morning… click on photo to enlarge image.

Snow Covered Logs at Third Lagoon

Written on February 9, 2019 at 5:40 am, by

Thanks to Nancy DeVaux for this photo of snow yesterday at third lagoon… click on photo for larger image…

Snow in San Juan Valley

Written on February 9, 2019 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to Colleen Bennett for this photo of yesterday’s snow… 

The Eagle and the Hawk

Written on February 7, 2019 at 5:30 am, by

Thanks to John Miller for this great photo… click to enlarge photo.

Dinner and Movie at Cynthia’s Bistro Celebrates Mushrooms

Written on February 5, 2019 at 5:30 am, by

Joining together once again Cynthia’s Bistro at 65 Nichols Street and Friday Harbor Film Festival… Please join us on Thursday, February 7 at 5:00 pm for an evening of an informative movie from the archives of Friday Harbor Film Festival and a creative dinner by Cynthia’s complimenting the film. As you learn about the magic  Continue Reading

Snow Geese Sunrise

Written on January 29, 2019 at 10:06 am, by

John Miller shares this photo he shot with a drone on Fir Island yesterday morning. Click to enlarge. Thanks for sharing John!

Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale

Written on January 21, 2019 at 9:17 am, by

  Interested in using native plants in your landscape? There are many wonderful reasons to use PNW natives: they are often long lived and don’t need maintenance, they provide year-round color and garden interest, they can be used to stabilize hillsides and prevent erosion, and some are drought and heat tolerant, helpful in a warming  Continue Reading

FHL Tide Bites

Written on December 4, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

A Unique Challenge: Marine Subtidal Ecology at UW Friday Harbor Labs by Pema Kitaeff & Alex Lowe Despite windy weather and choppy water just the day before, the morning of Friday June 22nd 2018 dawned gloriously sunny and calm: a gift of optimal conditions bestowed on the patient planners of field work. Few have been  Continue Reading

Images from Zion

Written on November 21, 2018 at 9:03 am, by

San Juan Island photographer Bob Stavers shares some photos from his recent trip to Utah… I recently spent a week in Zion National Park with a wonderful photographer and teacher, Matt Suess. Here are a few images I am working on from that very productive trip. I hope you enjoy them.  Just click  here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/44888236@N00/albums/72157697726925890

Volunteer Day on Turtleback Mountain

Written on November 20, 2018 at 5:47 am, by

The SJC Land Bank invites you to to meet your new Orcas Stewardship Staff and throw in a little habitat restoration to boot. Join us in the oak restoration units to help plant plugs grown in the Salish Seeds Project nursery. We will depart promptly at 9:45 am from the South Trailhead parking area (Deer  Continue Reading

Know Your Island Walk – Goldenback Trail

Written on October 23, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

The Land Bank’s new Stewardship Coordinator, Erin Halcomb will lead us on the Goldenback Trail – a relatively new trail within the Land Bank’s Westside Preserve. In 2016, the property was generously gifted to the Land Bank by the Reiss family, and the half-mile trail was constructed shortly thereafter. The trail is moderately difficult, a  Continue Reading

Magical Ornamentals – Salvias, Roses and the Drama of Leaves

Written on October 16, 2018 at 5:48 am, by

  A panel of San Juan Island Master Gardener volunteers will share their ornamental obsessions and inspire you to join them in their love of salvias, roses, and plants with beautiful leaves at the Annual Gardening Workshop, this Saturday, October 20th. Ornamental garden plants aren’t ‘idle lovelies’ – they create pollinator habitats and bird joy,  Continue Reading

Soil need some help? Landscape a little bare?

Written on October 11, 2018 at 5:48 am, by

  The San Juan County Master Gardeners are pleased to welcome Craig Cogger, WSU Soil Scientist Emeritus, and Everett Chu, Owner of Azusa Farm and Gardens LLC, Certified Professional Horticulturist and Landscape Designer, to the Annual Gardening Workshop. Dr. Cogger will discuss “Assessing and Amending Your Garden Soil,” with guidelines for testing, fertilization and organic  Continue Reading